Sylvania



. Patented Feb. 7, I899. .1. W. 81. P. L. TYGARD. ROTARV INTERNALCOMBUSTION ENGINE.

{Application filed Nov. 26, 1897.)

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(No Model.)

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Patented Feb. '7, I899.

.1. w.. air. L. TYGABD. ROTARY INTENNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

[Applcation filed NW. 26, 1897.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Mudl.)

. Patented Feb. 7, 1899. J. W &. P. L. TYGARD. ROTARY INTERNALCOMBUSTION ENGINE.

{Application filed Nov. 26, 1897.)

3 SheetsSheet 3.

(No Model.)

owfv TH: Noam: Prcns on. PrGT UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES WALLACE TYGARD AND PERRY L. TYGARD, OF PITTSBURG, PENN- SYLVANIA,ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO FREDERICK C. TYGARD, OF

SAME PLACE.

ROTARY INTERNAL-COM BUSTION ENGIN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,004, dated February7, 1899.

Application filed November 26, 1897. fierial No. 659,934. (No model.)

7 To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JAMES WALLACE TY- "GARD and PERRY L. TYGARD,citizens of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulRotary Internal-Combustion Engine and Means for Operating the Same, ofwhich the following is a specification.

to Our invention consists of a rotary engine comprising two annularchambers, traveling pistons-within the same which by their action in thefirst chamber draw in and compress an explosive mixture and by means ofvalves common to both chambers deliver the said mixture between theclosed valves and traveling pistons of the second chamber, wherein bysuitable means it is ignited and exploded, propelling the pistonsforward within the annular chambers, together with means for regulatingthe speed of the engine by throttling its fuel; and our invention hasfor its object to increase the effectiveness and simplify theconstruction of the internal-com- 2 5 bustion engine, all of which willbe readily understood from the following description,

taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1represents a side elevation of our improved rotary engine; Fig. 2, atransverse vertical section of the largest annular chamber and movableparts therein; Fig. 8, a longitudinal vertical central section of theentire engine; Fig. 4:, a top view of one of the main 3 5 valves withits casing partly removed; Fig. 5,

an outside View of valve-casing containing valve and insulated electricWire contained therein; Fig. 6, a transverse vertical section of thedrawing Fig. 5 on the line a a; Fig. 7,

a sectional portion of insulated electric wire;

Fig. 8, a side view of one of the main valves detached from its casing;Fig. 9, a view of the smallest end of said valve; Fig. 10, a transversesection of the same valve on the line b b; 5 Fig. 11, a transversevertical section of such combined elements as constitute thegas-governor controlling the gas-supply to the engine through one of itsmain valves; Fig. 12, a transverse vertical section of drawing Fig. 11

on line 0 c; Fig. 13, an outside face view of one of the toothed wheelsused in imparting rotary motion to the main valves and centrifugalweighted lever therein.

An embodiment of mechanical element-s necesssary to put our invention topractical use consists of a substantial base or frame 1, upon which iserected and permanently fixed a stationary case 2, provided with acircumferential annular chamber 3, containing two diametrically oppositepistons 4, adapted to travel therein. A web 5 unites said pistons to ahub 6, properly secured to a central concentric shaft 7, supported insuitable bearings 8, so that travel of the pistons 4. will causerotation of said shaft 7. Arranged in the corners of an equilateraltriangle at points across the annular chamber 3 and pathway of thepistons 4 are a number of valves 9, connected by suitable gear-wheels 10to the central shaft 7, whereby said valves 9 are caused to turn andopen the annular pathway, permitting the pistons to pass and returnbehind the same, closing the annular space immediately thereafter. Theseseveral valves 9 are hollow and by lateral openings or inlet-ports llmomentarily communicate with the annular chamber directly behind thepistons 4 as they pass corresponding side openings 12, formed in andthrough the Walls of said annular chamber. Each box 13, containing avalve 9, is provided with a pipe 19, fitted with a cook 20 to conduct asupply of suitable combustible gas into and through said box andregulate its flow. Each valve chest or box 13 is also provided withopenings 16 for the admission of atmospheric air in such quantity aswith the gas will compose an explosive mixture.

At equidistant points through the walls of the annular chamber 3 arearranged suitablyformed eduction-p o r t.S..liiIQ scape ,of wasteproducts resulting from each explosion of gas and air used in propellingthe pistons. The valve-ports 21, communicating with the induction-portsor side openings 12 in the an- 5 nular chamber 3, are provided with suchoperative appliances or devices as may be considered necessary or foundmost suitable to ignite the explosive mixture at the proper time, whichigniter consists of an electrical battery which'has one of its elementsgrounded and the other in connection with an adjustably-fixed electrode22, terminating in side the valve-casin g 13, and a traveling electricalcontact-ring 23, attached to the valve, which ring is incomplete byhaving a portion removed so as to form a break 24 and at regularintervals produce an electric spark that will ignite the explosivemixture of gas and air at the proper time. Connected to the structurepreviously described and separated therefrom by a suitable partition 25is another annular chamber 26, containing two pistons similar to thosejust described attached to the central shaft 7 by an intervening web 27,and these pistons are driven around their chamber 26 by means of saidshaft. The valves 9, being common to both of the annular chambers, movewith relation to their respective pistons in the same manner andsuccessively, the gearing 10 being such that each valve 9 revolves twiceon every revolution of the central shaft. These pistons by continuedonward travel after passing the valves 9 serve to suck or draw the gasand air behind them into the annular chamber 26 until the next valve ispassed and closed, when the following piston will, as it approaches thevalve in front of it, compress and condense said gas and air, and as thevalve is turned for the passage of said piston the explosive mixture inadvance of it will be driven through the lateral opening 11 in the valve9 and the side opening 12 into the annular explosion-chamber 3, and asthe valve is closed behind the departing piston the gas and air isignited, producing such explosion as will give to said piston a suddenforward impetus, and the waste inert products resulting from saidexplosion will be discharged through the eduction-ports 18. As thepistons approach and pass the several valves in rapid succession eachvalve operates with respect thereto and introduces gas and air andignites the same, as hereinbefore' stated; but as there are only twopistons in each annular chamber and a separate valve common to bothlocated at three equidistant points within the circular pathway of saidpistons the several valves operate at different periods of timeagreeable to the relative positions of the pistons, whereby all thepreviously-stated effects and results are accomplished in the manner setforth. The supply of gas necessary to accomplish the object ofour-invention is admitted and controlled by a governor, which consistsof a stout bar 28, Fig. 13, attached to and suspended at or near itsmiddle upon one end of a short shaft 29, parallel to the axis of thevalve, the opposite end of said shaft 29 being provided with a smalltoothed wheel 30, which engages corresponding teeth formed in one edgeof a pivoted plate 31, adapted to open and close the gas-passage 32,leading into the valve-chamber 33. Adjustably secured along the bar 28is a suitable weight 34. The bar 28 is also provided with a spring 35,which by its action constantly inclines said bar in one direction andcauses it to assume such position as will open the gas-supply valve. Allthe several parts comprising this governor are attached to and revolvewith the valve 9, the weight 34 by its centrifugal force closing thegas-inlet and the spring by its resistance operating to open the same,whereby a constant state of unstable position is maintained by the plate31, which varies under difierent pressures and changing degrees of work.

The shaft 7 is provided with the usual broad-faced pulley S, and at oneend of said shaft is a hand-wheel T, by which an initial rotary movementmay be given the valves sufficient to draw in gas for starting theengine. I

As each separate valve is provided with means for igniting the explosivemixture of gas and air and a governor for controlling and regulating thesupply of gas, the appliances of each valve 9 being in every respectsubstantially the same in structure and mode of operation, a descriptionof one of them is deemed suificient for all.

We claim- 1. In a rotary engine, an annular chamber constructed andadapted to receive within it an explosive mixture of gas and air, amoving piston within said chamber that Will compress and force saidexplosive mixture into a connected annular chamber containing travelingpistons; and suitable means for igniting said mixture whereby it iscaused to explode and by its expansive force drive said travelingpistons around within their annular chamber.

2. A rotary engine which has pistons impelled and caused to travelaround within an annular chamber by the expansive force of exploded gasand air, in combination with a connected separate chamber wherein a mixture of said gas and air is received and compressed preparatory to beingintroduced into said annular chamber; and intermediateautomatically-acting valves which move to permit the passage of thepistons and introduce said compressed gas and air into the annularchamber wherein it is ignited and exploded.

3. In a rotary engine an annular chamber, pistons impelled and caused totravel in said annular chamber by successive explosions of ignited gasand air in combination with a separate annular chamber wherein anexplosive mixture of gas and air is drawn in and compressed; a number ofvalves which turn and alternately open the passage-way for the pistonsand the explosive mixture into the adjoining chamber behind the pistonsand suitable means to ignite said explosive mixture.

4. In a rotary engine an annular chamber, pistons impelled and caused totravel in said annular chamber by successive and repeated explosions ofignited gas and air; in combiinduction-pipes through which the gas andair are supplied to the engine; pistons which travel in the annularchamber into which the gas and air is first received so as to draw inand compress the same; a number of valves which constitute means ofcommunication between the separated chambers whereby the compressedmixture of gas and air will be properly transmitted from the chamberwhereg in it is compressed into the annular chamber wherein it isexploded; suitable means for igniting and exploding said mixture of gas;and eduction-ports for escape of waste products resulting from eachexplosion.

5. In a rotary engine the combination consisting of an annular chamber;pistons adapted to travel in the same and draw in gas and air from asource of supply; an adjoining annular chamber; pistons attached to aconcentric shaft adapted to travel in said adjoining chamber; suitablevalves which turn and open thepassage-way for the pistons in bothchambers and transfer the compressed gas and air from the firstreceiving-chamber into the other chamber wherein it is exploded.

6. In a gas or vapor engine the combination consisting of an annularchamber; pistons which travel in said chamber to draw and compress gasand air therein; a separate contiguous annular chamber; travelingpistons in the same; a number of valves which altere19,oo4 a nately opento permit passage of the respective pistons and immediately closethereafter; suitable ports in said valves through which an explosivemixture of gas and air after being compressed in one annular chamberwill pass directly into the adjoining annular chamber between its valveand departing piston; and suitable automatic means for igniting theexplosive mixture in said chamber.

7. In a gas or vapor engine the combination consisting of an. annularchamber; pistons adapted to travel in said. chamber to draw and compressgas and air therein; a separate contiguous annular chamber; travelingpistons in the same; a number of valves which alternately open to permitpassage of the respective.

pistons and immediately close thereafter;

suitable ports in said valves through which JAMES WALLACE TYGARD. PERRYL. TYGARD.

Witnesses:

FRED. 0. TYGARD; IRA J. WILsoN.

